Muffler mounting



M 25 1937 E. s. M PHERsoN MUFFLERv MOUNTING 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 29,

A ar/e Ma /krill! ATTO RN EYJ' May 25, 1937. S. MaCPHERSON 2,081,546

MUFFLER MOUNTING Filed March 29, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY-7 Patented May 25, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUFFLER MOUNTING Application March 29, 1934, Serial No. 718,057

9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to motor vehicles of the type propelled by internal combustion engines and refers more particularly to improvements in muffler assemblies for such vehicles.

More specifically, this invention consists in the provision of a muffler assembly especially designed for use in association with an internal combustion engine mounted upon the chassis of a vehicle for rocking movement relative thereto under the influence of forces set up in the engine during operation thereof. In motor vehicles of the general type previously set forth, the muffler is connected to the exhaust manifold and since the latter is rigidly secured to the engine, it necessarily follows that rocking movement of the engine tends to displace the muffler assembly relative to the frame. Difficulty has been experienced in the past in providing a mounting for the muffler on the frame having means possessing the degree of flexibility required to permit relatively free movement of the muffler with respect to the frame and at the same time positively securing the muffler in assembled relation with the frame so as to insure against accidental disengagement of the muffler from the frame in the event of failure of said flexible means.

It is, therefore, one of the principal objects of this invention toprovide a muiller assembly having improved means for mounting the muffler upon the vehicle affording sufiicient flexibility in all directions to permit relatively free displacement of the muffler with respect to the frame and at the same time positively connecting the muffler to the vehicle so as to prevent any possibility of the muffler becoming detached from the frame.

Another advantageous feature of this invention resides in the provision of a muffler assembly and mounting therefor enabling expansion or contraction of the muffler under temperature changes without effecting the efficiency of the mounting or deforming any part of the assembly.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a muffier assembly wherein the several connections of the latter to the vehicle are such as to effectively insulate the muffler assembly from metallic contact with the frame. This feature is desirable since it prevents noises developed in the muffier assembly from being transmitted to the passenger compartment of the vehicle through the frame.

The foregoing, as well as other objects will be made more apparent as this description proceeds especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a vehicle frame having a mufller assembly constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is also a similar View taken on the line 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a semi-diagrammatic front elevation illustrating the manner in which the forward end of the engine is supported from the frame;

Figure 8 is also a semi-diagrammatic elevational view featuring the manner in which the rear end of the engine is supported upon the frame.

Although it is to be understood that the muffler assembly about to be described may be employed in association with motor vehicles irrespective of the manner in which the engine of the vehicle is supported on the latter, nevertheless, it finds particular utility when used in connection with a vehicle construction wherein the engine is supported upon the vehicle frame for rocking movement relative thereto under the influence of the forces set up in the engine, and accordingly, I have shown my improved muffler assembly in association with vehicles of this latter character. In the specific embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, it will be noted that I have selected for the purpose of illustration a frame If] comprising laterally spaced side sills H connected together through the medium of a cross brace l2 commonly referred to in the art as an X-member. This member forms no part of the present invention and it is merely shown herein for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which my improved muffler assembly can be employed in vehicles equipped with such a member. In the present instance, the X-brace l2 comprises two substantially V-shaped members I3 having the ends of the leg portions thereof secured to the sills at points spaced longitudinally of the latter and having the apexes suitably connected together in spaced relation to each other to provide for the passage therebetween of the propeller shaft (not shown).

The power plant I4 including the internal combustion engine |5 is also shown in Figure 1 and is supported upon the frame I0 in such a manner as to provide for rocking movement of the power plant under the influence oi the forces set up in the engine. The particular mountings for the power plant upon the frame permitting the desired rocking movement of the engine are not important insofar as this invention is concerned and it is to be understood that any type of mounting affording the above movement of the power plant may be employed. One type of engine mounting found suitable for the above purpose is diagrammatically shown in Figures 7 and 8 as comprising shackles pivotally connecting opposite ends of the engine to the frame Hi. In Figure '7 of the drawings, I have illustrated the forward end of the power plant as pivotally connected to the frame through the medium of a pair of shackles l6 and in Figure 8 I have shown the rear end of the power plant as pivotally connected to the forwardly extending legs of the X-memher through the medium of a similar pair of shackles Inasmuch as the particular mounting of the power plant on the frame is of no importance to the present invention, it will suffice to point out that the two pairs of shackles, briefly referred to above, are so designed as to permit the power plant to rock under the influence of the forces set up in the engine.

The muffler assembly connected to the engine is designated in the several figures of the drawings by the reference character 20 and is supported upon the frame In through the medium of mountings designed to afford relatively unrestrained displacement of the assembly under the influence of the aforesaid rocking movement of the engine so that practically no strain is placed upon the assembly by this rocking movement. It will also be hereinafter set forth that the mountings are of such construction to effect a positive connection between the muffler assembly and frame so that any danger of the assembly becoming entirely disconnected from the frame is practically impossible. Before describing in detail the particular construction of mounting featured herein for accomplishing the above results it may be pointed out that the muilier assembly comprises a sound absorbing unit or a muffler proper 2|, a tail pipe 22 operatlvely connected to the rear or discharge end of the muffler and a lead-in pipe 23 connecting the forward end of the mufller to the exhaust manifold (not shown) on the engine. In detail, the rear end of the pipe 23 is sleeved into a hub 24 on the forward end of the muffler 2| and is secured within this hub by means of a suitable clamp 25. The rear end of the muffler 2| is provided with a similar hub 26 for receiving a relatively short pipe 21 secured therewithin by means of a clamp 28 and communicating at the rear end with the tail pipe 22 through the medium of a flexible coupling or conduit 29. The flexibility of the coupling 29 is so determined as to form, in effect, a lost motion connection between the tail pipe and muffler 2| enabling displacement of the latter without effecting a corresponding movement of the tail pipe. As a matter of fact, the coupling 29 permits restricted movement of the muffler in all directions relative to the tail pipe 22, and accordingly, there will be no tendency for the tail pipe to creep relative to the frame and place any strain whatsoever upon the muffler proper when the latter either elongates or contracts under temperature changes or is displaced under the influence of the rocking motion of the engine.

The tail pipe 22 of the muffler assembly is mounted upon the frame independent of the muffler proper 2| and the means for securing both of these elements to the frame will now be dc scribed. The forward end of the muffler is not directly connected to the frame ill, but on the other hand, is connected to the exhaust manifold (not shown) on the engine through the medium of the pipe 23 and the latter is sup ported intermediate its ends upon a part of the power plant by means of a bracket 30 shown in Figure 6. The inner end of the bracket 30 is suitably secured to the clutch housing 3| of the power plant while the outer end of the bracket is provided with a flange 32 having a radius substantially coincident with the radius of the pipe 23 for engaging the latter and is socured thereto by means of a suitable clamp 33.

The rear end of the muffler 2| is supported at two points from the frame and the manner in which this is accomplished in the present instance is shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. As will be observed from this figure a clamp 34 is mounted upon the muffler 2| and is secured to the muiiler as well as the frame by means of fastener elements 35. In detail, the clamp 34 comprises two substantially semi-circular sections 36 and 31 having the free ends thereof bent outwardly to form ears 38. The radius of each section is substantially coincident with the radius of the muffler and these sections are assembled upon the latter in such a manner that the ears extend outwardly from opposite sides of the muffier in substantially horizontal planes. The construction of the clamp is such that when the sections thereof are in assembled relation with the muffler the ears are vertically spaced from each other so that movement of the ears toward each other by the fastener elements 35 exerts a clamping action on the mother.

The fastener elements 35 are located upon opposite sides of the muffler 2| and are carried by a sheet metal strap 39 extending over the muflier in the manner shown in Figure 3. The outer end of the strap is permanently secured to one of the sill members of the frame while the inner end thereof is similarly secured to the X- cross brace 2. each provided with a bolt 40 having the lower ends extending through aligned openings formed in the ears 38 and having the upper ends extending through openings 4| in the strap 3!! of greater diameter than the bolts 40. The lower extremities of the bolts are threaded to receive nuts 42 and the latter cooperate with the spacers 43, surrounding the bolts, to secure the two sections of the clamp to the muffler. The upper ends of the spacers 43 are adapted to abut washers 44 located below the strap 39 and having a diameter greater than the diameter of the open-- ings 4| in the strap. The washers 44 are held from axial displacement relative to the bolts by means of nuts 45 "threaded upon the upper extremities of the bolts forming abutments for the washers 46 located above the strap 39 and fixed against movement relative to the bolts 40 toward the washers 44 by means of suitable spacers 41 surrounding the bolts between the aforesaid washers. The diameter of the washers is greater than the diameter of the openings 4| in the strap 39 and the spaces between the wash-- ers and opposite sides of the strap are filled by rubber grommets designated generally herein by The fastener elements 35 are (iii the reference character 59. In the specific embodiment of the invention the grommets are each formed of rubber washers 5! and 52 having a diameter approximating the diameter of the washers 44 and 46. In detail, the rubber washers 5! are sleeved on the spacers 41 between the washers 46 and upper side of the strap 39 while the rubber washers 52 are sleeved on the spacers 41 between the washers 44 and the lower surface of the strap 39. The rubber washers 5i are provided with annular projections 53 at the inner edges thereof adapted to extend into the openings 4| in the strap 39 and cooperate with corresponding projections 54 on the washers 5?. to fill the spaces between the inner edges of the openings 4| and the spacers 41.

Although the rubber grommets 50 briefly described are of such a size so as to afford free movement of the muffler 2! in all directions in response to both the torque reactions of the en gine and expansion and contraction of the muffler, nevertheless, the fastener elements 35 as a whole are so designed as to prevent accidental disengagement of the muffler from the frame. In this connection attention is called to the fact that even though for some reason the rubber grommets should become dislodged the muiller would still be maintained in assembled relation with the frame, due to the fact that the washers 44 and 46 on opposite sides of the strap are both of greater diameter than the openings 4| and cannot possibly pass through the latter openings. It will further be noted from the above description that the rubber grommets 50 serve to insulate the mufller from metallic contact with the frame, and accordingly, any exhaust noises set up in the muffler are prevented from being transmitted through the frame to the body of the vehicle.

The tail pipe 22 is mounted upon the frame independent of the muffler 2| at two points designated generally herein by the reference characters 55 and 56. Inasmuch as the flexible coupling 29 permits movement of the mulller 2| relative to the tail pipe 22, the latter may be rigidly secured to the frame if desired, but in order to insure elimination of muffler noises in the vehicle body, I prefer to also insulate the mountings at the aforesaid points from metallic contact with the frame. In detail, the mounting at the point 55 is shown in Figure 4 as comprising a bracket 51 having one end 58 welded or otherwise suitably secured to the tail pipe and having the other end connected to the frame of the vehicle through the medium of a fastener element 59 embodying a rubber grommet 60 similar in construction to the rubber grommets 50 previously described. In detail, the rubber grommet 60 is located within an opening 6! in a part of the vehicle frame and a spacer S2 is sleeved within the grommet for receiving the bolt 63. The head of the bolt engages a washer 64 which in turn abuts one side of the grommet while the shank of the bolt extends through a flange 65 on the bracket arranged in engagement with the opposite side of the grommet. The parts are held in assembled relation by means of a nut 66 threaded upon the extremity of the shank of the bolt for engagement with the flange 65 on the bracket and the latter as well as the washers 64 are of greater dimension than the opening GI so as to maintain the bracket in assembled relation with the frame even though the grommet should become dislodged.

The mounting at the point 56 is shown in detail in Figure 5 of the drawings as comprising a bracket 51 having a flange at the lower end welded or otherwise suitably secured to the tail pipe and having a flange 69 at the upper end secured to the frame through the medium of a fastener element ll} identical in construction to the fastener element 55 described in connection with Figure 4.

Thus from the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided improved means for mounting a muffler assembly upon a vehicle chassis enabling relatively free movement of the muffler proper relative to both the tail pipe and frame while at the same time providing the stability required to withstand the severe usage to which an assembly of this character is exposed. It will also be observed that my improved muffler mountings are such as to enable the muffler assembly to be readily installed upon a vehicle chassis and to permit any part of this assembly to be expediently removed, if necessary.

Although only one specific embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, nevertheless, it is to be understood that the advantageous features previously discussed may be secured by resorting to various modifications of the specific embodiment shown, and accordingly, reservation is made to make such changes in the construction as may come within the purview of the accompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is:--

1. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a frame, an internal combustion engine mounted upon the frame for rocking movement relative thereto, of a muffler assembly including a muffler connected to the engine andmovable in response to rocking movement of the engine, a connection between the muffler and frame embodying means possessing sufficient flexibility to afford relatively free displacement of the muffler with respect to the frame under the influence of the forces rocking the engine and embodying additional means for maintaining the mufller in assembled relation with the frame in the event of failure of said first named means.

2. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a frame and an internal combustion engine mounted upon said frame for rocking movement relative thereto, of a mufller assembly including a mufller rigidly connected to said engine, and a connection between the muffler and frame embodying means possessing sufficient flexibility to afford movement of the muffler relative to the frame under the influence of the forces rocking the engine and embodying additional means for maintaining the muffler in assembled relation withthe frame in the event of failure of the first named means.

3. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a frame and an internal combustion engine mounted upon said frame for rocking movement relative thereto, of a muffler assembly including a muffler connected to said engine and movable in response to rocking movement of the engine, a tail pipe connected to the discharge end of the muffler, a connection between the mulller and frame embodying flexible means affording relatively free displacement of the muffler with respect to the frame under the influence of the forces rocking the engine and embodying additional means for maintaining the muffler in assembled relation with the frame in the event of failure of the first named means, and a similar connection between the tail pipe and frame.

4. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a frame and an internal combustion engine mounted upon said frame for rocking movement relative thereto, of a muffler assembly in cluding a muffler connected to said engine and movable in response to rocking movement of the engine, a tail pipe connected to the discharge end of the muffler, a connection between the muffler and frame embodying flexible means afl'ording relatively free displacement of the muffler with respect to the frame under the influence of the forces rocking the engine and embodying additional means for maintaining the muiller in assembled relation with the frame in the event of failure of the first named means, a similar connection between the tail pipe and frame, and a flexible coupling connecting the tail pipe and mufller preventing creeping of the former upon axial displacement of the latter.

5. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a frame, an internal combustion engine mounted upon the frame for rocking movement relative thereto and a muffler assembly rigidly connected to the engine, of a connection between the muffler assembly and frame embodying means affording limited displacement of a part of said assembly relative to the frame and embodying additional means for maintaining the muffler assembly in assembled relation with the frame in the event of failure of the first named means, said connection comprising a clamp secured to the part aforesaid of the assembly by means including a bolt extending through an opening of greater diameter than the bolt and formed in a part carried by the frame, a rubber grommet surrounding the bolt within the opening and having portions engaging opposite sides of the frame part, and washers clamped to opposite sides of the portions aforesaid of the grommet through the medium of said bolt and having diameters greater than the diameter of the opening in said frame part.

6. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a frame, an internal combustion engine mounted on said frame for rocking movement relative thereto and a muffler connected to said engine and movable in response to rocking movement of the engine, of means connecting the muffler to the frame permitting movement of the former relative to the latter under the influence of the forces rocking the engine, said means including bolts connected to opposite sides of the muffler and passing through openings in a part carried by the frame of greater diameter than said bolts, a rubber grommet surrounding each bolt within the openings and having end portions engaging opposite sides of said frame part, and a pair of washers clamped to opposite sides of the portions aforesaid of each grommet.

7. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a frame, an internal combustion engine mounted on said frame for rocking movement relative thereto and a muffler connected to said engine and movable in response to rocking movement of the engine, of means connecting the muffler to the frame permitting movement of the former relative to the latter under the influence of the forces rocking the engine, said means including bolts connected to opposite sides of the muffler and passing through openings in a part carried by the frame of greater diameter than said bolts, a rubber grommet surrounding each bolt within the openings and having end portions engaging opposite sides of said frame part, a pair of washers on each bolt at opposite sides of each grommet, a spacer sleeved on each bolt within the grommets between said washers, and means cooperating with said bolts for clamping the washers and grommets together.

8. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a frame, an internal combustion engine mounted on said frame for rocking movement relative thereto and a muffler connected to said engine and movable in response to rocking movement of the engine, of means connecting the mufller to the frame permitting movement of the former relative to the latter under the influence of the forces rocking the engine, said means including bolts connected to opposite sides of the muffler and passing through openings in a part carried by the frame of greater diameter than sald' bolts, a rubber grommet surrounding each bolt within the openings and having end portions engaging opposite sides of said frame part, a pair of washers clamped to opposite sides of the portions aforesaid of each grommet and having diameters greater than the diameters of the openings through the frame part, and means operating with said bolts for clamping the washers and grommets together.

9. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a frame structure, an internal combustion engine mounted upon the frame structure for rocking movement relative thereto, of a muffler assembly including a muffler connected to the engine and movable in response to rocking movement of the engine, a tail pipe communicating with the discharge side of the muffler, a connection between the muffler and frame embodying means possessing suflicient flexibility to afford relatively free displacement of the muffler with respect to the frame structure under the influence of the forces rocking the engine and embodying additional means for maintaining the muffler in assembled relation with the frame in the event of failure of said first named means, and means other than said connection for securing the tail pipe to the frame structure.

EARLE S. MACPHERSON. 

